Dory (fish)

The common name dory (from the Middle English dorre, from the Middle French doree, lit. "gilded one") is shared (officially and colloquially) by members of several different families of large-eyed, silvery, deep-bodied, laterally compressed, and roughly discoid marine fish. As well as resembling each other, dories are also similar in habit: most are deep-sea and demersal. Additionally, many species support commercial fisheries and are considered excellent food fish. Most dory families belong to the order Zeiformes, suborder Zeioidei:

• The "true dories", family Zeidae (five species, including the well-known John dory)
• The zeniontids, family Zenionidae or Zeniontidae (seven species)
• The "Australian dories", family Cyttidae (three species all within the genus Cyttus)
• The oreos, family Oreosomatidae (ten species)
• The parazen family, Parazenidae (four species, including the rosy dory)

Additionally, several species of spinyfin (family Diretmidae, order Beryciformes) have been given the name dory by fishmongers, presumably to make the fish more marketable.

In popular culture

In the Pixar film Finding Nemo, Dory is the name of a regal tang fish, which is not a dory.

See also

• List of fish common names
• Dory (boat)